Goodbye Polaroid, Hello Rollip
I was playing around with Rollip today. Rollip is a Web 2.0 application, but I like to think of it as a Gen X app because the web service will appeal to Generation X moms and dads. My mom used a Polaroid camera when I was a kid and I thought it was so cool when the photos magically developed right before my eyes. It will be a sad day for Gen X dads and moms when Polaroid stop selling their instant film (I think this is the last year). You can buy a Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera with a built-in mobile printer. The Polaroid PoGo is neat and offers instant gratification, but the prints doesn’t have the classic look and feel of a vintage Polaroid picture.
Now thanks to Rollip.com, you can transformed your digital photos into an old Polaroid. The GenX app gives your photo a vintage look. However, the converted photo doesn’t magically develop right before your eyes. And of course, you don’t get the instant gratification of the classic Polaroid cameras.
(note: my little girl claimed she was a boy after her recent hair cut)
I like the Rollip photo app, but there’s a problem with the flow of the application. In the current process, you select the Polaroid effect first. Then you select the template (decoration and text). And in the final step, you upload your photo. Question: How do you know what you want to write if you have not selected a photo? In my opinion, it makes more sense to upload the photo before you type in the text for the photo.
The other change that is needed is the ability to make changes without starting completely over. For example, in the six Rollip Polaroid examples shown above, I had to upload the same photo six times and type the exact same text six times. Once I’ve uploaded a photo, I should be able to easily change effect, template, or text. Dads and moms don’t have time to start over every time they want to make a change.
Another improvement I would like to see is the ability to crop manually. As you can see in the Rollip photos, part of my daughter’s head was cropped off. If it was up to me, I would cropped the bottom of the photo.
BTW, the text caption is limited to 26 characters but Rollip doesn’t tell you that. In fact, the app lets you enter as many characters as you want and then truncates the text during the final processing. Then you have to start the whole process from the beginning if you don’t like the truncated text.
In summary, I don’t like the process for creating the finished photos, but I do like the vintage Polaroid photos at the end of the process. Rollip is a free web service and is worth trying out.
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OO, they should really tell you that they limit you to 26 characters!! That just doesn’t seem right to forget to tell someone. The photos are beauuuutiful. :]
.-= Mrs. C´s last blog ..The Sad Story of Homeschooling. =-.
Especially when you have to start over because the text was truncated right in the middle of a word.
I have a few photos like that in my little girl archive too. :)
Hugs,
Holly
.-= Holly Schwendiman´s last blog ..It Sneaks Up on You =-.
I’m sure there are some of me at my parents house … somewhere.
df:
Great photo. i didn’t realized how you can AMBILIFY such media. She looks like like a tough sweetie. Right up my ally (like A). you have such beautiful babies – k
Thanks, but I’m not sure what you mean by Ambilify.
Yes, lots of Gen X nostalgia with polaroids! I’ll miss them. That sound!!! I once heard a story on NPR about a guy who was documenting sounds – like AOL circa 1994 and things like the coooosh of the Polaroid. This was great information!
.-= jenx67´s last blog ..generation x mashup: vw channels grease, back to the future for polo car ad =-.
That’s right. I forgot about that sound. You’ll know it’s a Polaroid when you hear it.
Being the camwhore that I am, definitely trying this out.
.-= Kay´s last blog ..J and J’s wedding =-.
The finished photos are great for scrapbooks.
You silly man! Fancy thinking I wanted to make ANOTHER BABY! don’t you think 8 is quite enough???? LOL
I sure do.
How is wee Disney ? Any better?
.-= Chris H´s last blog ..YAAAAAA….. A WINNER AND PEACE AGAIN! =-.
About the same. But he cried the last two times I took him for a walk. He use to like that. Maybe it’s getting too cold for walks.